Abstract:
The Regional Haze rule is designed to enhance and protect visibility
at large national parks and wilderness areas. There are 156 of these
nationwide and they are called Mandatory Class I Federal Areas.

The Executive Summary of the RIA provides and overview of the scope,
methodology, findings, limitations and conclusions of the Regional
Haze RIA. Chapter 1 provides a brief description of the nature of
the rule, refinements to the previous economic analysis, present analytical
approach and remaining caveats and limitations. Chapter 2 describes
the Statutory Authority for the Regional Haze rule as well as pertinent
Executive Orders and Congressional Mandates related to the rule-making
and analysis. Chapter 3 describes the illustrative progress goals
and control strategies. Chapter 4 explains the concepts of benchmark
and baseline emissions and air quality. Chapter 5 describes control
measures, while Chapter 6 addresses emission reductions, air quality,
visibility, and cost impacts, including the BART element of the rule.
Chapter 7 estimates the administrative burden and costs associated
with the final Regional Haze rule and Chapter 8 contains an assessment
of the potential economic imp act of the rule as well as ways to avert
or mitigate some impacts. Chapter 9 describes the underlying scientific
physical and economic information used to assess benefits, the resulting
benefit estimates, and plausibility checks for the estimated benefits.
Chapter 10 contains a benfit-cost analysis for four uniform national
progress goals as well as a situation where illustrative progress
goals can vary across the geographic regions of the country (e.g.
midwest/northeast, southeast, south central, Rocky Mountain, west,
and northwest).